Share your local dev server with a client
Hand a client a live URL that points at your laptop — no staging deploy, no screen share, no recordings.
You want to show in-progress work to a client without pushing to staging or recording a video. JustTunnel gives your localhost a public HTTPS URL the client can open in their own browser, on any device, in real time.
Staging deploys take minutes, eat CI, and break on branches that aren't ready. Screen shares are one-directional. Recordings go stale the moment you save another file. A live tunnel sidesteps all three problems.
Steps
1. Install the CLI
curl -fsSL https://justtunnel.dev/install | sh2. Start your app
npm run dev
# → http://localhost:30003. Expose it with a memorable subdomain
justtunnel 3000 --subdomain client-previewReserved subdomains that survive restarts are a paid-plan feature. On the free tier you still get a working URL — it's just randomized per session. See Reserve a subdomain for the full story.
4. Send the link
Drop https://client-preview.justtunnel.dev into email, Slack, or wherever you talk to the client. They open it in a browser and see exactly what's running on your machine. No installs, no accounts.
Why this beats a staging deploy
| Staging deploy | JustTunnel | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to share | Minutes (CI/CD) | Seconds |
| Reflects latest code | Only after push + build | Always — you save, they refresh |
| Risk to other environments | Shared infra conflicts | None — it's your laptop |
| Client interaction | Full, but delayed | Full and immediate |
Tips
- Pick a memorable subdomain.
client-previeworacme-redesignis easier to share than a random hash. - Iterate live. While the client is browsing, fix things on the fly. They refresh and see the change. A static review becomes a working session.
- Any framework works. React, Next.js, Vue, Rails, Django, plain HTML — if it binds to a port, JustTunnel can expose it.
- HTTPS is automatic. Every URL is served over TLS. No certificates to configure, no browser warnings on the client side.
Beyond demos
The same workflow covers more than client check-ins:
- QA testing. Let a teammate exercise your branch before it merges.
- Usability testing. Hand a participant a link and watch them use a real build.
- Standup demos. Drop a link in chat instead of describing what you built.
Related
justtunnel— base command and flags- Reserve a subdomain — keep the same URL across sessions
- Password-protect a tunnel — gate access for sensitive previews